From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V11 #172 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Tuesday, July 25 2006 Volume 11 : Number 172 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Times Review ["Andy" ] [AVALON] Dock Rock - PS items of lesser importance [Chandla911@aol.com] [AVALON] Roxy in Serbia [LeeSullivanart@aol.com] RE: [AVALON] Times Review [robert@rwhiteford.freeserve.co.uk] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:20:44 +0100 From: "Andy" Subject: [AVALON] Times Review FYI, I disagree... Andy ============================================================================ == Roxy Music David Sinclair at ExCel, E16 A CONVERTED car park next to the main ExCel auditorium in Docklands, East London, might seem an odd place for Roxy Music to play their only show in Britain this year. But the idea of staging a season of rock concerts as an adjunct to this year's British International Motor Show seems to have struck a chord. The 5,000 or so fans, who had earlier been eying up the latest models, were clearly in the market for music of a considerably older vintage as they gathered under an ominously cloudy sky on Saturday evening. They were rewarded with a hardcore heritage show by a band that was once the last word in design cool. Like The Who, Roxy Music have reached an age and stage where a proper, full-time creative reunion suddenly seems an attractive proposition. They have been writing and working in the studio with Brian Eno, their founder member, and the group is planning to release a new album next year, its first since Avalon in 1982. However, with no new songs and certainly no Eno in evidence, this show was basically another holding operation. Arriving on stage in a swirl of expensive suits, they swept into an opening salvo of Re-make/Re-model, Pyjamarama and Ladytron, three of their oldest and best-loved songs, which quickly settled the nerves of band and fans alike. Bryan Ferry, resplendent in a black jacket that gleamed like the skin of an otter, started off behind an electric keyboard at the side, but quickly gravitated to his natural location centre stage. He was flanked by guitarist Phil Manzanera and saxophonist Andy McKay, with Andy Newmark behind, sitting in on drums for Paul Thompson, who was absent due to health problems. A large cast of ancillary musicians filled out the sound and stage. The mood became more reflective as a long piano intro led into A Song for Europe, and the pace meandered as Ferry gave a rather weary account of the ballad My Only Love. "There's a river flowing/ By a willow tree/ When you find you're there/ Remember me," he sang, with that familiar quiver in his voice. But his glib delivery made it hard to gauge his level of commitment to this, or indeed any of the songs. The pulse of the show dropped to a virtual standstill during Avalon, and was only partly revived by Ferry's poignant whistling routine in Jealous Guy. But a closing broadside of Do the Strand, Love is the Drug and Virginia Plain re-ignited their enthusiasm, before a final blast of Let's Stick Together brought the curtain down on an evening rich in nostalgia, but lacking in fire and enterprise. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 05:55:26 EDT From: Chandla911@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Dock Rock - PS items of lesser importance Yes, it was quite amazing that the sky, so brooding and ponderous, heavy set with black clouds, didn't open up with heavy downpour...a miracle. The breeze from the open water meant that the temperature was just about right, not too cold nor too hot (not sure how that was if in the melee at the front?)... The lead singer from Roxy Magic, dressed in shiny BF-type suit promenaded (and I mean promenaded) up and down the avenue of chip vans outside the arena, with his Jerry Hall lookalike companion (not), turning heads whenever he reappeared. One couple near me believed it was BF and said "What's he doing with her?". Cue raucous laughter from a guy clad in FYP sweatshirt... Like Mark, I would just LOVE to have the sound back from Sat night at Dock Rock. I did not record it (too busy having a good time) but would be very glad to get busy again, treeing for up to FIVE people internationally IF anyone could contact me OFFLIST and arrange to send me the seed for the tree. Likewise, I would happily tree any of the other 12 shows under similar circs... It was interesting to see the FOUR guitarists (I tend to use this term genericallY) onstage, all with totally different visual personae: Manzo with his "I was there, mate, in the glam 70s but look far more well-heeled oldster from Havana nowadays" look; Guy Pratt (the bass is a guitar, is it not?) with his extra from a 21st Century version of Budgie (the TV series) cum cheky chappy stand-up mucker look; Leo Abrahams with his ultracool (probably cacking himself inside) appearance, all velvet jacket and flared trousers, smiling benignly and never seeming to break into sweat, er look; and Oliver Thompson, just a few years older than my own progeny, shoulder length hair and youthful can't quite believe I'm up here on stage with a real band, I wasn't even born when the released their last studio album, how nice of them to wait until after my A levels before they toured, but I'll make damn sure I'll enjoy myself while I'm up here look. But I still maintain that Ferry in the midst of this crowd has a harder time maintaining his place as the main focus... Merchandise/memorabilia: TOTAL CRAP. Once again, no programmes...just the KOKO poster recycled once more (just how many of those did they print?) and no mugs, keyrings or other unnecessary souvenirs. In 2001, there were some decent shirts with quality printing but now just some ridiculously shabby Tshirts that were clearly printed by my 10-year old son with his John Bull printing outfit (must have a word with him about profiteering without my knowledge - or giving me a cut). We tend take it for granted that Ferry is a control freak who signs off everything, be it Burberry photo shoots or album sleeves or merchandise - so what is he thinking??? TGPT was definitely missing from this show. But must say that, given the circumstances (how euphemistic is the use of the word illness in this instance? Does anyone know?), you couldn't wish for a better or more appropriate replacement than Andy Newmark. Girl singers were brilliant at what they did. Girl dancers were...not there. Does the venue get taken down afterwards? Or does it stay up for next year? It IS a shame that Roxy race through some of these songs with Bogus Man still the most obvious example. They look like they are enjoying themselves (as has been noted elsewhere) so would it hurt to stay on stage a few minutes longer and do these songs as approximately the right speed? Best wishes Richard Mills n/p Ultravox! special edition reissue (produced by Brian Eno) CD ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:48:42 EDT From: LeeSullivanart@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] Roxy in Serbia A pal of mine passed this on to me; I pass on to you all: 'a chap on the band Wire's mailing list from Serbia went to see Roxy last week and has posted this link (in Serbo-Croat, natch, but with some nice photos). Set list he says was: 1. Re-Make/Re-Model (1972) [roxy music] 2. Pyjamarama (1973) [7" single] 3. Ladytron (1972) [roxy music] 4. While My Heart Is Still Beating (1982) [avalon] 5. Out Of The Blue (1974) [country life] 6. Oh Yeah (1980) [flesh and blood] 7. Bogus Man (1973) [for your pleasure] 8. A Song For Europe (1973) [stranded] 9. My Only Love (1980) [flesh and blood] 10. Both Ends Burning (1975) [siren] 11. Tara (1982) [avalon] 12. In Every Dream Home A Heartache (1973) [for your pleasure] 13. Avalon (1982) [avalon] 14. More Than This (1982) [avalon] 15. Jealous Guy (1981) [7" single] 16. Editions Of You (1973) [for your pleasure] 17. Do The Strand (1973) [for your pleasure 18. Love Is The Drug (1975) [siren] 19. Virginia Plain (1972) [7" single] 20. Let's Stick Together (1976) [let's stick together - bryan ferry Dear friends, here is the link where you can see photos from Roxy Music, hope you'll see piece of atmosphere.. _http://www.popboks.com/koncerti/roxymusic.shtml_ (http://www.popboks.com/koncerti/roxymusic.shtml) ' Lee S ____________________________________________ Easily distracted? Displacement activity a problem? Me too. Going to: _www.leesullivan.co.uk_ (http://www.leesullivan.co.uk/) and _www.roxymagic.co.uk_ (http://www.roxymagic.com/) won't help either. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:15:01 +0200 (CEST) From: robert@rwhiteford.freeserve.co.uk Subject: RE: [AVALON] Times Review This is utter b*ll*cks! The "pulse" of the show was the best thing about it from where we were standing. Personally I think Ferrys delivery was the best in ages as well and it certainly wasn;t "glib". I do think MOP and Street Life may have been better than While my Heart is Still Beating and My Only Love to have more high tempo tracks but did this clown miss Editions of You and Both Ends Burning? GRRRRRR. Rob > The pulse of the show dropped to a virtual standstill during Avalon, and was > only partly revived by Ferry's poignant whistling routine in Jealous Guy. > But a closing broadside of Do the Strand, Love is the Drug and Virginia > Plain re-ignited their enthusiasm, before a final blast of Let's Stick > Together brought the curtain down on an evening rich in nostalgia, but > lacking in fire and enterprise. > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V11 #172 ***************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest